NFL Analysis
2/4/25
5 min read
Super Bowl LIX: Unsung Players On Chiefs, Eagles Who Could Determine Outcome
Super Bowl LIX will feature plenty of star power, with Patrick Mahomes, Saquon Barkley, Chris Jones, and Jalen Carter leading two of the best rosters in the NFL.
However, the biggest plays often come from players who rarely receive national attention. These are the unsung players on each Super Bowl roster who have led their teams to New Orleans and will be X-factors this Sunday.
Unsung Super Bowl LIX Players
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) February 4, 2025
Milton Williams, DL 
Milton Williams is one of the most athletic defensive tackles in NFL Combine history, posting a 9.96 relative athletic score in 2021. In his first three seasons with Philadelphia, he was a solid contributor but never had more than 25 pressures in a season.
He’s fully broken out as a pass rusher in his contract year, recording 50 pressures and six sacks and ranking sixth among defensive tackles in ESPN’s pass rush win rate. Since Week 12, the only interior defenders with more pressures are Carter and Jones
Williams is an excellent power rusher, consistently pushing the pocket and forcing quarterbacks to scramble into edge pressure. He also has elite lateral explosiveness to cross his opponent’s face and generate quick wins off the snap.
While Carter and Nolan Smith are more widely recognized, Williams has been a crucial element of Philadelphia’s improved pass rush and will receive a massive contract in free agency.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) February 4, 2025
Leo Chenal, LB
Leo Chenal is a throwback player with one of the more unique skill sets and roles in the NFL. He’s a 250-pound linebacker who can play any front-seven position at a high level and dominate on early downs. While he only plays 26.1 snaps per game, he’s a critical element of Kanas City’s run defense.
Chenal is the best block-shedding linebacker in the league, with a powerful punch to separate from climbing guards at the second level. Kansas City sometimes plays him at nose tackle, and he’s capable of two-gapping and making plays in the A-gap. He’s also a quick processor who rarely misfits or gets fooled by misdirection. Chenal is a powerful, reliable wrap-up tackler with three forced fumbles in 2024.
In addition to his defensive contributions, Chenal has been an elite special-teamer for his entire career. In his three NFL seasons, Chenal has played 1,066 special-teams snaps across all five units (kick return, kickoff coverage, punt return, punt coverage, and field goal block) and recorded 17 special-teams tackles.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) February 4, 2025
He has some coverage limitations and isn’t the most fluid tackler in open space, but Chenal will be a key factor in containing Barkley.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) February 4, 2025
Mekhi Becton, OG
Mekhi Becton is the latest successful Jeff Stoutland reclamation project. After a turbulent rookie contract in New York, Becton has found a home at right guard and has been a force in the run game. He’s powerful at the point of attack and has had some absolutely dominant finishes at the second level, leading the way for many of Barkley’s big runs this year.
Becton still has some flaws in pass protection, having allowed 33 pressures and five sacks this year. At 363 pounds, his mirror ability is limited, and he has struggled at times to diagnose stunts and blitzes. Still, he’s been a league-average guard in that phase and has made a significant improvement from last season.
Becton’s market will be interesting to monitor this spring. The Eagles gave him a 1-year, $2.75 million prove-it deal, and Philadelphia is clearly a great fit for his development, but another team might be enticed by the steps he’s taken in 2024 and offer him more money than the Eagles can afford.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) February 4, 2025
Justin Reid, SAF
Justin Reid has been a steady presence in Kansas City’s secondary for the last three years, but he doesn’t get the level of recognition he deserves. He’s one of the best run-defending safeties in the NFL and one of five safeties with at least 30 defensive stops in each of the last two seasons.
Reid is particularly effective patrolling the flats and defending screen passes, as his quick-play recognition allows him to diagnose motions and route development to stay ahead of blocks.
He’s a versatile coverage player, splitting time between free safety, box safety, and nickel. He can play man coverage on tight ends and has outstanding instincts and route recognition in zone coverage.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) February 4, 2025
Jaden Hicks, SAF
With Reid set to hit free agency, Kansas City could move forward with Jaden Hicks as his replacement. A fourth-round pick in 2024, he didn’t play much until Week 10.
However, the Chiefs transitioned to more three-safety personnel packages during the second half of the season, and Hicks has been impressive. Like Reid, he has the versatility to play multiple positions and thrive in different coverage roles, but Hicks has slightly more range to make plays in deep coverage.
Tackling was one of his biggest issues at Washington State, but he’s been an extremely reliable tackler as a rookie.
